Network based replay portal

• US 20020124262A1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Basso, Andrea, Van der Merwe, Jacobus E., Kalmanek, Charles Robert Jr., Sreenan, Cormac John
• Application Number:
  US09/923,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124262A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/109
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6437 Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A network based video replay service utilizing broadband technologies on the internet. A replacement for current analog or digital TV offerings that offer the same quality and user experience. The capacity used by current offerings (e.g. on a cable access network) will be freed up for use by the new service. The current schedule based broadcast paradigm users are accustomed to is emulated while at the same time offering on-demand viewing based on personal preference or subscription profile. This hybrid offering can lead to bandwidth savings in the access network with interaction of this service with other services on a common packet based infrastructure.

Claims

1. An internet network based video replay system adapted for enabling a customer to view a video program comprising:

a network for providing a plurality of access programs selectively available to enable a customer to view a selected program;

wherein the network stores a plurality of video programs for a predetermined period of time to permit customers to view selected programs upon demand.

2. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 1, wherein said video programming is live programming of events that is stored for a predetermined period of time to permit a user to time shift viewing of selective programs upon demand.

3. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 1, and further including a replay portal for storing a plurality of programs and enabling a customer to selectively retrieve a selected program for viewing.

4. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 3, wherein said replay portal stores an individual program for a predetermined period of time for selective viewing by a customer

5. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 4, wherein after a predetermined period of time the individual program is recorded over to enable a customer to retrieve one of a revised selection of a plurality of programs.

6. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 3, wherein a high capacity backbone is provided to permit the replay portal to receive programs from live sources and from broadcasts for retransmission to customers.

7. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 3, wherein a replay portal receives programs from other replay portals for retransmission to customers.

8. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 1, and further including a primary hub for distributing programs to a secondary hub and fiber optical connections from the secondary hub to a fiber node for retransmission to individual customer homes.

9. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 1, wherein said network includes a data sink for receiving network programs and live programs from a provider, a storage unit for receiving said network programs and live programs from the data sink and a data source for providing downstream viewing of selected programming.

10. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 9, and further including a storage manager unit for managing the selection of a particular program by a customer and for addition and removal of data from a store.

11. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 10, wherein said storage manager is operative connected to a data sink for receiving data from upstream and writing the data to the store for a particular customer while making the data available for immediate delivery to a customer.

12. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 9, and further including a media manager for managing the selection of a particular program by a customer, said media manager including a backend frame format means for determining the encapsulation of media frames in real transport protocol.

13. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 1, wherein a customer is enabled to view, still pause, reverse and fast forward the viewing of the video program.

14. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by a unicast real time transport protocol or any other unicast protocol.

15. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by a multicast real time transport protocol or other multicast protocol.

16. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by inter portal communication.

17. An internet network based video replay system according to claim 16, wherein the transfer is by a unicast real time transport protocol or any other unicast protocol.

18. An internet network based video replay system according to claim 16, wherein the transfer is by a multicast real time transport protocol or any other multicast protocol.

20. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 19, wherein said video programming is live programming of events that is stored for a predetermined period of time to permit a user to time shift viewing of selective programs upon demand.

21. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 19, wherein said replay portal stores an individual program for at least one of a predetermined period of time and an undetermined period of time for selective viewing by a customer.

22. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 21, wherein after a predetermined period of time the individual program is recorded over to enable a customer to retrieve one of a revised selection of a plurality of programs.

23. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 19, wherein a high capacity backbone is provided to permit the replay portal to receive programs from live sources and from broadcasts for retransmission to customers.

24. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 19, wherein a replay portal receives programs from other replay portals for retransmission to customers.

25. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 19, wherein said network includes a data sink for receiving network programs and live programs from a provider, a storage unit for receiving said network programs and live programs from the data sink and a data source for providing downstream viewing of selected programming.

26. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 25, and further including a storage manager unit for managing the selection of a particular program by a customer and for addition and removal of data from a store.

27. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 26, wherein said storage manager is operative connected to a data sink for receiving data from upstream and writing the data to the store for a particular customer while making the data available for immediate delivery to a customer.

28. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 25, and further including a media manager for managing the selection of a particular program by a customer, said media manager including a backend frame format means for determining the encapsulation of media frames in a real time transport protocol.

29. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 19, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by a unicast real time transport protocol or by any other unicast protocol.

30. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 19, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by a multicast real time transport protocol or by any other multicast protocol.

31. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 19, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by inter portal communication.

32. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 31, wherein the transfer is by a unicast real time transport protocol or any other unicast protocol.

33. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 31, wherein the transfer is by a multicast real time transport protocol or any other multicast protocol.

35. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 34, wherein said video programming is live programming of events that is stored for a predetermined period of time to permit a user to time shift viewing of selective programs upon demand.

36. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 34, wherein a high capacity backbone is provided to permit the customer replay portal to receive programs directly from live sources and from broadcasts

37. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 34, and further including a media manager for managing the selection of a particular program by a customer, said media manager including a backend frame format means for determining the encapsulation of media frames in a real time transport protocol.

38. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 34, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by a unicast real time transport protocol or any other unicast protocol.

39. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 34, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by a multicast real time transport protocol or any other multicast protocol.

40. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 34, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by inter portal communication.

41. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 40, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by transfer from a network based portal operated by a service provider.

42. The internet network based video replay system according to claim 40, wherein the acquiring of the video program is by transfer from a network based portal operated by another customer.

19. An internet network based video replay system adapted for enabling a customer to view a video program comprising:

a network for providing a plurality of access programs selectively available to enable a customer to view a selected program; and

a replay portal for storing a plurality of programs for enabling a customer to selectively retrieve a selected program for viewing;

wherein the replay portal stores a plurality of video programs for a predetermined period of time to permit customers to view, still pause, reverse and fast forward the viewing of selective programs upon demand.

34. An internet network based video replay system adapted for enabling a customer to view a video program comprising:

a network for providing a plurality of access programs selectively available to enable a customer to view a selected program; and

a customer replay portal for storing a plurality of programs for enabling a customer to selectively retrieve a selected program for viewing;

wherein the customer replay portal is maintained by said customer to store a plurality of video programs for at least one of a predetermined period of time and an undetermined period of time to permit the customer to view, still pause, reverse and fast forward the viewing of selective programs upon demand.